SBI Credit Card New Rules From December 1, 2026: 1% Fee on Fuel and Transport Payments
SBI credit card rule changes from December 1, 2026, will introduce additional charges for certain high-value transportation transactions and fuel purchases. Cardholders who frequently spend large amounts on travel-related services or fuel will need to review their expenses to understand how the revised fee structure could affect their budgets. Under the new rules, a 1% fee will apply to eligible transportation transactions exceeding Rs 30,000 and total fuel spending exceeding Rs 50,000 in a billing cycle.
Cardholders should note that the conditions for calculating the fee differ between the two categories. Transportation charges are assessed on individual transactions, while fuel charges depend on the combined value of eligible transactions during a billing cycle.
The SBI Card website states, “W.e.f. December 1, 2026, a fee of 1% of the transaction amount will be applicable on every transportation transaction (identified under MCCs 4111, 4784, 4131) exceeding Rs.30,000.”
For example, if a cardholder makes an eligible transportation payment of Rs 35,000, the additional fee will be Rs 350. Transactions worth Rs 30,000 or less will not attract this particular charge.
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What cardholders should know: The fee applies when an eligible transportation transaction exceeds Rs 30,000. A transaction worth exactly Rs 30,000 will not attract the new charge under this rule.
According to the SBI Card website, “W.e.f. December 1, 2026, if the total amount of all fuel transactions (identified under MCCs 5172, 5541, 5542, 5983) made in a billing cycle exceeds Rs.50,000, a fee of 1% will be charged on the total fuel spends,”
Unlike the transportation rule, which applies to individual transactions, this fuel-related charge is calculated using the combined value of eligible fuel transactions made during the billing cycle.
For instance, if your total eligible fuel spending reaches Rs 55,000 in a billing cycle, the 1% fee will amount to Rs 550. If your total fuel expenditure is Rs 60,000, the additional charge will be Rs 600.
Important point: The 1% fee will apply to the entire eligible fuel expenditure once the total exceeds Rs 50,000. It will not be limited to the amount spent above the threshold.
For example, if your eligible fuel transactions total Rs 55,000, the fee will be calculated on Rs 55,000 rather than just the additional Rs 5,000.
To prepare for the revised rules, cardholders can:
The revised SBI credit card rules, effective December 1, 2026, introduce additional fees for eligible high-value transportation transactions and fuel spending above the specified limits. The key distinction is that transportation charges are calculated on each qualifying transaction, while fuel charges are based on total eligible spending during a billing cycle. Cardholders can avoid unexpected costs by monitoring their expenditure and checking the latest SBI Card terms before making large payments.
SBI Credit Card New Rules : What Changes From December 1?
According to a notice dated October 27, 2026, published on the SBI Card website, the revised charges will come into effect on December 1, 2026. The changes cover two categories of spending: high-value transportation transactions and fuel purchases that cross a specified billing-cycle limit.Cardholders should note that the conditions for calculating the fee differ between the two categories. Transportation charges are assessed on individual transactions, while fuel charges depend on the combined value of eligible transactions during a billing cycle.
1. SBI Credit Card: 1% Fee on Transportation Transactions Above Rs 30,000
From December 1, SBI Card will levy a 1% fee on eligible transportation transactions exceeding Rs 30,000. This means the charge will depend on the value of an individual transaction rather than the total transportation spending during the billing cycle.The SBI Card website states, “W.e.f. December 1, 2026, a fee of 1% of the transaction amount will be applicable on every transportation transaction (identified under MCCs 4111, 4784, 4131) exceeding Rs.30,000.”
For example, if a cardholder makes an eligible transportation payment of Rs 35,000, the additional fee will be Rs 350. Transactions worth Rs 30,000 or less will not attract this particular charge.
SBI Credit Card Transportation Charges: Examples
The following examples explain how the revised fee will apply to individual eligible transportation transactions.| Transportation transaction | Applicable fee | Additional charge |
|---|---|---|
| Rs 25,000 | No fee, as it does not exceed Rs 30,000 | Rs 0 |
| Rs 30,000 | No fee, as it does not exceed Rs 30,000 | Rs 0 |
| Rs 35,000 | 1% | Rs 350 |
| Rs 50,000 | 1% | Rs 500 |
What cardholders should know: The fee applies when an eligible transportation transaction exceeds Rs 30,000. A transaction worth exactly Rs 30,000 will not attract the new charge under this rule.
2. SBI Credit Card Fuel Charges: 1% Fee on Spending Above Rs 50,000
The second change concerns fuel purchases. From December 1, 2026, SBI credit cardholders whose total eligible fuel spending exceeds Rs 50,000 during a billing cycle will have to pay an additional fee of 1% on their entire fuel expenditure for that cycle.According to the SBI Card website, “W.e.f. December 1, 2026, if the total amount of all fuel transactions (identified under MCCs 5172, 5541, 5542, 5983) made in a billing cycle exceeds Rs.50,000, a fee of 1% will be charged on the total fuel spends,”
Unlike the transportation rule, which applies to individual transactions, this fuel-related charge is calculated using the combined value of eligible fuel transactions made during the billing cycle.
For instance, if your total eligible fuel spending reaches Rs 55,000 in a billing cycle, the 1% fee will amount to Rs 550. If your total fuel expenditure is Rs 60,000, the additional charge will be Rs 600.
SBI Credit Card Fuel Charges: How Much Will You Pay?
Here is an illustration of how the revised fuel fee will affect cardholders based on their total eligible fuel spending during a billing cycle.| Total fuel spending | Applicable fee | Additional charge |
|---|---|---|
| Rs 40,000 | No fee | Rs 0 |
| Rs 50,000 | No fee | Rs 0 |
| Rs 55,000 | 1% of total spending | Rs 550 |
| Rs 60,000 | 1% of total spending | Rs 600 |
| Rs 75,000 | 1% of total spending | Rs 750 |
Important point: The 1% fee will apply to the entire eligible fuel expenditure once the total exceeds Rs 50,000. It will not be limited to the amount spent above the threshold.
For example, if your eligible fuel transactions total Rs 55,000, the fee will be calculated on Rs 55,000 rather than just the additional Rs 5,000.
How Will the New SBI Credit Card Rules Affect You?
The impact of these changes will depend on your spending habits. Cardholders who make occasional fuel purchases or smaller transportation payments may not cross the specified thresholds. However, those who regularly make high-value transportation payments or use their SBI credit cards for substantial fuel expenses should pay closer attention to their transactions.To prepare for the revised rules, cardholders can:
- Track transportation payments: Check whether any individual eligible transaction exceeds Rs 30,000.
- Monitor monthly fuel expenses: Keep track of total eligible fuel transactions during each billing cycle.
- Review payment methods: Consider whether another payment method is more suitable for transactions that may attract these additional charges.
- Check official updates: Review the latest SBI Card terms and conditions to understand the applicable charges before making large payments.
SBI Credit Card Rule Changes: Key Details at a Glance
| Particulars | Transportation transactions | Fuel transactions |
|---|---|---|
| Effective date | December 1, 2026 | December 1, 2026 |
| Threshold | Individual transaction above Rs 30,000 | Total eligible spending above Rs 50,000 per billing cycle |
| Fee | 1% of the transaction amount | 1% of total eligible fuel spending |
| When the fee applies | When a transaction exceeds Rs 30,000 | When combined fuel spending exceeds Rs 50,000 per billing cycle |
The revised SBI credit card rules, effective December 1, 2026, introduce additional fees for eligible high-value transportation transactions and fuel spending above the specified limits. The key distinction is that transportation charges are calculated on each qualifying transaction, while fuel charges are based on total eligible spending during a billing cycle. Cardholders can avoid unexpected costs by monitoring their expenditure and checking the latest SBI Card terms before making large payments.
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